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How to become a home inspector in New York

To become a home inspector in New York, you need a license from the Department of State. You finish a 140-hour approved course or 100 supervised inspections, pass either the New York State exam or the NHIE, and carry general liability insurance.

NHIE acceptedChecked on . Updated

New York at a glance

New York at a glance
ItemNew York
ExamYour choice: the New York State written exam (2.5 hours, pass or fail, good for 2 years) or the NHIE through PSI
Exam fee$50 for the state exam, or $225 for the NHIE
Education140 hours at a DOS-approved school: four 25-hour modules plus 40 hours of unpaid supervised field inspections
Field workThe 40 field hours in the course, or 100 inspections supervised by a New York licensed inspector, engineer, or architect in place of the course
InsuranceGeneral liability of $150,000 per occurrence and $500,000 in the aggregate
OtherA high school diploma or equivalent. No age rule or fingerprints were found.
Application fee$250 for the application and license
Renewal$100 every 2 years, with 24 hours of continuing education

The licensing body is the New York Department of State, Division of Licensing Services. Fees and rules change, so check them with the state before you pay for anything.

Steps to a New York license

  1. 01

    Finish the 140-hour course at a DOS-approved school, or do 100 supervised inspections.

  2. 02

    Pass the New York State exam or the National Home Inspector Examination.

  3. 03

    Buy general liability insurance of $150,000 per occurrence and $500,000 aggregate.

  4. 04

    Apply to the Department of State and pay $250.

State exam or NHIE

Since April 3, 2020, New York has accepted either exam. The state exam is a paper test given at walk-in sites for $50, and DOS reports only pass or fail. A state exam pass counts for 2 years. DOS gives no time limit for an NHIE pass.

Coming from another state

DOS sources disagree. Its FAQ says New York has reciprocity with no state. Its application says yes where an agreement exists. The law says DOS will license holders from states with substantially equivalent standards. Ask DOS before you count on it.

Exams New York accepts

Licensing exams for New York
ExamGiven byFormatFeeTo pass
New York State home inspector written examDepartment of State, on paper at walk-in sites2.5 hours$50Pass or fail only
National Home Inspector Examination (NHIE)PSI200 questions, 4 hours$225500, scaled from 200 to 800
  • New York State home inspector written exam. Multiple choice on the 140-hour course topics. A pass is good for 2 years. From the 2025 exam schedule; check DOS for the current one. Content outline.
  • National Home Inspector Examination (NHIE). Accepted since April 3, 2020. Content outline.

How long it takes in New York

You finish a 140-hour approved course with 40 hours of field inspections, or 100 supervised inspections. A New York State exam pass stays good for 2 years; no limit is set for the NHIE. New York sets no minimum time; the hours and inspections are the floor.

Home inspector pay in New York

BLS puts the median pay for construction and building inspectors in New York at $79,460 a year in May 2025, against $74,690 for the whole country. BLS counts about 11,160 people in that job in the state, and home inspectors are one specialty in the group, next to city and county code inspectors.

The number leaves out the self-employed. An inspector who owns the business is self-employed, so that pay isn't in it. For what owners report, see how much home inspectors make.

New York next to the other states

  • NHIE required
  • NHIE accepted
  • State exam only
  • License, no exam
  • No state license
  • Adds a state section

New York is ringed. Each square opens that state's page.

More on the exam

Questions people ask

Does New York accept the NHIE?

Yes. Since April 3, 2020, you can pass either the New York State exam or the National Home Inspector Examination.

Can I become a home inspector in New York without the course?

Yes. 100 home inspections supervised by a New York licensed home inspector, engineer, or architect can replace the 140-hour course.

How much does a New York home inspector license cost?

$250 for the application and license, plus the exam: $50 for the state exam or $225 for the NHIE. Renewal is $100 every 2 years.

How long does it take to become a home inspector in New York?

You finish a 140-hour approved course with 40 hours of field inspections, or 100 supervised inspections. A New York State exam pass stays good for 2 years; no limit is set for the NHIE. New York sets no minimum time; the hours and inspections are the floor.

How much do home inspectors make in New York?

BLS publishes no separate figure for home inspectors. It counts them with construction and building inspectors, whose median pay in New York was $79,460 a year in May 2025. That figure leaves out the self-employed, which includes an inspector who owns the business.

See where you stand

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Becoming a home inspector

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